Torrance post office closed, evacuated over possible asbestos exposure

Torrance post office closed for hazmat incident

A post office in Torrance was evacuated after reports of potential asbestos exposure. The post office has shut down and stopped mail delivery out of the building.

TORRANCE, Calif. - A Torrance post office was evacuated Friday morning and remains closed over a reported hazardous materials incident, according to the Torrance Fire Department. 

What we know:

According to the fire department, crews responded to the office located in the 2500 block of Monterey Street just before 9 a.m. 

When they arrived, they were informed USPS employees believed asbestos had been uncovered, but not properly sealed, officials said. 

That's when the building was evacuated and support was requested from the LA County Health Hazmat team and a licensed asbestos-abatement company. 

SkyFOX video from the scene at the corner of Crenshaw and Monterey showed USPS workers gathered outside the building, surrounded by postal trucks. A long line of red tape was also visible in a section of the building.

USPS workers evacuated from Torrance post office

The LAPD and LAFD are responding to an incident that has prompted the evacuation of a post office in Torrance.

Dig deeper:

Employees told FOX 11 that there has been construction going on in the building for the last few months, and that they had been told there would be some asbestos remediation.

The building has remained open to the public throughout construction.

Why you should care:

The post office suspended operations for the day because of the situation. In a statement to FOX 11, the USPS said that nothing about the investigation has been confirmed, and that the post office was closed "out of an abundance of caution."

While this post office is closed, the USPS said people can go to these two other post offices in the city:

• Del Amo: 291 Del Amo Fashion Square, Torrance, CA, 90503Open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Marcelina: 1433 Marcelina Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501Open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What's next:

Authorities remain on scene to investigate the material that was discovered. 

No medical emergencies were reported.